Assumptions & Theoretical Models (approaches | The Cognitive Approach) Flashcards
The Cognitive Approach involves the study of
internal mental processes (IMP), e.g.
The Cognitive Approach involves the study of internal mental processes (IMP), e.g.
- memory
- thinking
- attention
- perception
The above processes are internal as psychologists know they are happening but they cannot be
directly observed in the same way that biological processes (e.g. brain structures) can for example
To investigate IMP researchers must
run research and make inferences from their findings
To investigate IMP researchers must run research and make inferences from their findings e.g.
- Peterson & Peterson (1959) inferred that
short-term memory has a duration of around 18 seconds but they could not prove this
To investigate IMP researchers must run research and make inferences from their findings e.g.
- Beck’s cognitive triad infers that
depression is based on dysfunctional thought processes but there is no absolute proof of this
Cognitive psychologists use
theoretical and computer models to understand IMP
Models are used to provide
testable theories about mental processes
Cognitive psychologists use
scientific methodology to investigate IMP (if a theory is testable it means it is scientific)
Theoretical models are
diagrammatic representations of IMP; they work in a similar way to flow charts used in computer programming
One theoretical model is
the Multi-Store Model of Memory (MSM)
The MSM is a
linear model outlining the stages involved in memory
The MSM demonstrates the
flow of information systematically
The MSM demonstrates the flow of information systematically as
input-storage-retrieval
It is possible to test the MSM using
lab experiments e.g. Glanzer & Cunitz (1966)
The MSM is an example of the information-processing approach: information flows
through the cognitive system in stages
The MSM is an example of the information-processing approach: The information is
transformed
The MSM is an example of the information-processing approach: The information is transformed e.g.
sensory information (e.g. sound, touch) enters memory via the sensory register
The MSM is an example of the information-processing approach: Information that has been
paid attention to is transferred to short-term memory
The MSM is an example of the information-processing approach: If information is
rehearsed, it will transfer to long-term memory
The MSM is an example of the information-processing approach: Any information which
is not rehearsed is displaced (forgotten)
Information processing in the mind is viewed as being similar to that of
a computer (the ‘computer analogy’)
Information processing in the mind is viewed as being similar to that of a computer (the ‘computer analogy’)
- encoding/coding
- storage
- output
Information processing in the mind is viewed as being similar to that of a computer: encoding/coding, computers use
alphanumeric codes to complete specific actions
